HISTORY

BRITISH PERIOD

Very shortly after coming under the British Government the members of the Miraj branch of the Patvardhan family claimed a division. As their claim was in accordance with precedent it was admitted and the Miraj portion of the saranjam was divided into four separate estates. About the same time the Jamkhindl portion of the saranjam was divided and the separate estates of Jamkhindi and Cincni were formed. In 1854 a division took place in the Kurundvad estate as the brothers and nephew of the Chief insisted on a separation, which was allowed by Government.

Policy of British Rulers towards adoption

As several holders of estates in this family had no heirs of their body the question of the right to adopt very soon came before the Government. The principle was then enunciated that in such cases adoption was not a right but a favour, the granting or refusing of which lay with the paramount power, and Government declared its intention of not granting this favour except under special circumstances, such as for instance in the case of a Chief who had distinguished himself by his good administration or in other ways. Under this rule the following estates lapsed to Government, the holders having died without leaving male issues; Cincni in 1836; a share in the Miraj estate in 1841: another share in the same estate in 1845; Tasganv in 1849; and Sedbal or Kagvad in 1857. All such incidents of lapse created a climate of discontent amongst the rulers, which was smouldering until it burst in the form of the great struggle of 1857. Adoptions had been allowed in the two last cases, but, as the adopted persons after holding the estates died without male heirs of their body, further adoptions were not allowed. Besides these instances, adoptions were sanctioned in the Sangli, Miraj and Jamkhindi families. As all the chiefs of the Patvardhan family except the younger chiefs of Kurundvad, subsequently received sanads from Lord Canning permitting them to adopt, there was to be no further lapse in default of male heirs of the body.

In 1848, the contingents furnished by the Patvardhan Chiefs were done away with, and this service was commuted to an annual money payment.

The sums paid to the British Government on this account were Rs. 12,558 for Mirai Senior, Rs. 6,412 for Miraj Junior, Rs. 9,619 for Kurundvad and Rs. 20,840 for Jamkhindi.

As a rule the Patvardhan family showed much loyalty towards the British Government. During the insurrection in Kolhapur in 1844 Cintamanrav of Sangli rendered most cordial and effective aid to the authorities. Afterwards when tried by the more severe test of the mutinies of 1857-58 the conduct of the Patvardhan Chiefs, with one exception, was such as to gain the thanks of Government.

Later events.

The changes that took place in the personnel of the existing Patvardhan States since the subversion of the Pesava's dynasty and their engagements with the British Government may be briefly cited. In Sangli Cintamanrav Appa Saheb died on the 15th July 1851 and was succeeded by his son Dhundirav Taitya Saheb, who was born in 1838. Before the birth of the latter another son of Appa Saheb had died leaving a widow, who adopted a son. The old Chief was very anxious that this adoption should be recognised by the British Government, and finally his request was acceded to on the usual condition of nazarana being paid. When this sanction was accorded, however, Cintamanrav was expecting an issue by his wife, and consequently did not care enough about the adoption to pay the nazarana. He made a will before his decease, fixing an allowance to his adoptive grandson Vinayakrav, the succession to the State devolving, as above stated, on his son. In 1873, during the regime of the Chief Dhundirav, the British Government, in consequence of abuses in administration, appointed Captain West as joint administrator of the State; but the Chief held himself aloof and did not associate with him at all. In July 1878 Major Waller assumed charge of the office of the joint administrator in succession to Captain West. In August 1880 Government were pleased to restore the Chief to his former position, on his promise to look after the administration. The joint administrationship however continued long afterwards. Dhundirav died on 12th December 1901 at the age of 63. He was succeeded on 15th June 1903 by his adopted son Cintamanrav who was a minor. Sangli however remained under the rule of administrators, first under A. B. Desai from 1901 to 1905 and then under Captain Burke from 1905 to 1910 in which year the administration passed over to Cintamanrav as he came of age. He continued to rule the State till 1947.

After the division of the Miraj estate as above narrated, the headship of that branch of the family, the fort of Miraj, and the largest portion of the saranjam remained with Ganpatrav Tatya, whose brother Moresvarrav lived with him. The latter demanded a further division, which would have been effected but for the death of Ganpatrav in 1833, on which event Moresvarrav withdrew his claim for a division, and was appointed guardian to the two young sons of his deceased brother, Gangadharrav and Narayanrav, who were aged seven and five years, respectively. He died in 1839, and the management of the minors' estate remained in the hands of two ministers, until Gahgadharrav Bala Saheb assumed the administration in 1849. In recognition of the latter's loyal conduct during the mutiny, he was allowed in 1859 to adopt, having no heirs of his body, and on his death in 1861 was succeeded by his adopted son Ganpatrav Tatya Saheb. The young Chief being a minor, arrangements were made for his education and for the management of his estate during his minority. He assumed the administration in 1817, and was shortly afterwards appointed a member of the Legislative Council of Bombay. Ganpatrav Tatya Saheb died in November 1874. His widow in June 1875 adopted, with the sanction of Government, Gopalrav, the younger grandson of Vinayakrav Bhau Saheb of Sahgli, who received on his adoption the name of Gahgadharrav. He was at the time in his tenth year. During the minority of the Chief the State was held under the direct management of the Southern Maratha Agency. On his coming of age in 1887 he was placed in charge of the administration. He was popularly called Balasaheb.

The second share in the Miraj saranjam devolved, as above stated, on Madhavrav, who died in 1859 and was succeeded by his son Laksmanrav Anna Saheb. Laksmanrav died in February 1876 and was succeeded by his son Hariharrav. The latter died soon in May 1877, leaving an infant son Laksmanrav, who also met his death before attaining majority. The jagir passed on to Raghunathrav of Kurundvad who was adopted in 1899, named Madhavrav and placed in charge of the jagir. During the period from 1877—99 the jagir was managed by joint karbharis under Government supervision.

Kesavrav, the Chief of Kurundvad, died in 1827 leaving four sons named Raghunathrav, Hariharrav, Vinayakrav, and Trimbakrav, all minors. The eldest was placed in charge of the estate in 1837, and before long a division was claimed by the vounger brothers, which, after much correspondence, was finally sanctioned in 1854. The estate of Kurundvad was thus divided into two parts, the larger portion remaining with Raghunathrav Dada Saheb, and the rest being assigned to Ganpatrav Bapu Saheb (son of Hariharrav who had died), Vinayakrav Appa Saheb, and Trimbakrav Aba Saheb. The last named Chief died in 1869 without male issue and it was decided that his share of the estate should devolve on his brother Vinayakrav and his nephew Ganpatrav, the elder brother being excluded from the succession. Raghunathrav of the senior branch died in January 1876 and was succeeded by his son Cintamanrav. He was also popularly called Balasaheb. He was nominated a member of the Legislative Council twice, first in 1895 and then in 1903. His efforts however to start a lottery in his State were prohibited by the British Government. He died on 16th February 1908 and was succeeded by his elder son Bhalcandra alias Annasaheb.

Gopalrav, the Chief of Jamkhindi, died in 1840, having before his death adopted with the sanction of Government a boy then seven years of age, who received on adoption the name of Ram-candrarav Appa, Saheb and who, after receiving some education, was invested with the administration of his estate in 1853. He was arrested on suspicion of his complicity in the rebellion of 1857 [ G. V. Apte: History of Patwardhan family (Marathi), p. 189.] but was subsequently released in 1859. He died on 12th January 1897 and was succeeded by his adopted son Parasuram Bhausaheb.

Kurundvad forms part of the present Kolhapur district and Jamkhindi is in Belganv but as the rulers of all the places were Patvardhans, their family history has been grouped together and presented here. [The genealogy of the Patwardhans is given on P. 144.]

Reviewing the successive divisions and sub-divisions of Patvardhan jagirs, one is inclined to take the view that both Bajirav and the successive British rulers were not interested in preventing such sub-divisions and on the whole accepted with some passive approval the growing weakness that such divisions inevitably brought in them.

Jath History.

The family of the Jath Chief claims descent from Lakhmaji bin Eldoji Cavhan, headman of the village of Daphlapur. Lakhmaji had two sons Satvajirav and Dhondjirav. In 1680 Satvajirav, who had entered the service of Ali Adil Sah, king of Bijapur, on paying a succession fee or nazarana, was appointed Desmukh of the sub-divisions of Jath, Karajgi, Bardol, and Vanvad; Satvajirav continued to be one of the leading Bijapur nobles till the State was overthrown by Aurangzeb in 1686. He assumed independence for a few days, but finally submitted to Aurangzeb, receiving Jath and Karajgi in jagir, and Jath. Karajgi, Vancad, and Bardol as vatans. Satvajirav's two sons, Babaji and Khanaji, died about 1700 before their father. On _Satvaji's death in 1706 without heirs, Yesubai, the wife of his eldest son Babaji, succeeded. On her death in 1754 Yesubai was succeeded by her nephew Yesvantrav. In 1759 Yesvantrav died and was succeeded by his son Amrtrav. Amrtrav was succeeded by his son Khanajirav, who had two wives Renukabai and Salubai. In 1818 Renukabai made a treaty with the English under which all her possessions were confirmed to her. In 1823 Renukabai died and was succeeded by Salubai who administered the State for ten months and died without leaving a male issue. The State was then attached by the Raja of Satara, but in 1824 it was granted to Ramrav, son of Narayanrav a member of the same family. In 1835 Ramrav died leaving no male issue. The Raja of Satara again attached the State and managed it till 1841, when it was granted to Bhagirathibai the widow of Ramrav. In 1841, with the permission of the Satara Government, Bhagirathibai adopted Bhimrav, son of Bhagvant-rav. Bhimrav on his adoption took the name of Amrtrav II. During Amrtrav's minority the State was managed by Bhagi-rathibai till her death in 1845. On Bhagirathibai's death Sakhojirav Savant was appointed karbhari or manager, and remained in office till Amrtrav came of age and took charge of the State in 1855. Mr. Rose, the Political Agent for the Satara territories, still chose to thrust upon him one Sadasiv Ballal Kibey as karbhari. Very soon Amrtrav and Sadasiv Ballal quarrelled. Mr. Rose treated Amrtrav callously and told him on 25th February 1857 that if he interfered any more with the karbhari he would be deposed. This turned Amrtrav to the nationalist movement and he made common cause with others like him. On 24th August 1857 Mr. Rose telegraphically communicated to Elphinstone that " Jath Estates have always inclined to be troublesome. Information direct from Shorapur reveals an intention there to co-operate with the Shorapur Raja". Thereupon a proclamation was issued in 1858 and guns, arms and ammunitions from Jath as also from elsewhere, were confiscated. [ V. S. Shrivastav: Patriots and Traitors, Part I. Probing of Happenings in Maharashtra, Jath and other places, p. 49.] In 1872 owing to numerous complaints of oppression on the part of Amrtrav, the Government of Bombay ordered Captain, later Lieutenant Colonel, West to make inquiries into the alleged grievances. The result of these inquiries was that both the civil and the criminal administration was taken out of the Chief's hands. The Chief of Jath, who was styled Desmukh, was a Maratha by caste and ranked as first class sardar under the British rule. Besides small sums on account of rights in other districts, the chief paid to the British Government a yearly tribute of Rs. 4,739 on account of sardesmukhi rights in the Satara district and of Rs. 6,400 in lieu of furnishing svars or horsemen. In 1884 the powers of the Chief were withdrawn. A karbhari or manager was appointed with the powers of a first class subordinate judge in civil cases, and of a first class magistrate in criminal cases.

Daphalapur.

The small State of Daphlapur consisting of six villages, lies to the west of Jath. In the nineteenth century it was managed by a lady, Baisaheb Laksmibai Daphle, who exercised the powers of a magistrate of the first class and in civil matters of a first class subordinate judge.

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